Solano deputy hurt in crash-ending pursuit

A Solano County Sheriff's deputy remained hospitalized Thursday, a day after a fiery crash of his car during a high-speed pursuit in Fairfield that landed two suspects behind bars, officials said.

Deputy Rick Mroz, 22, suffered serious leg injuries after his patrol car slammed into a light pole on Highway 12 around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday while chasing two suspects in a car that had been reported stolen, Sheriff's Lt. Brad DeWall said. Its occupants, identified as Edward Asis, 27, of Concord, and 20-year-old Desiree Bello, of Antioch, were subsequently arrested.

Mroz, who has been with the Sheriff's Office for seven months, came across the vehicle, a white 1998 Honda Civic that had been reported stolen out of Pittsburg, while on patrol on Highway 12 near Chadbourne Road, DeWall said. Mroz activated his lights and siren and tried to stop the vehicle, however the driver refused to stop and sped away on westbound Highway 12 at speeds reaching upwards of 100 mph.

The suspects tried to shake Mroz and his cover units by making an abrupt turn onto southbound Pennsylvania Boulevard, but lost control of the car, which ended up in a field near the intersection, and took off on foot.

Mroz tried to make the turn behind them and crashed into a light pole near the intersection, sheering it off. The impact caused major damage to his patrol car, one of the department's older-model Ford Interceptors.

The car burst into flames, adding even more urgency to the Fairfield Fire crews who worked to cut Mroz from the vehicle.

Several Fairfield police officers who responded and tried to help get Mroz out of the burning car were treated for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.

Mroz was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where he is recovering from "significant" leg injuries, DeWall said, adding that Mroz was very fortunate that his injuries weren't worse.

Bello was captured by deputies following a short foot chase, DeWall said. It took authorities upwards of an hour and a half to locate Asis, who was found hiding in water surrounded by tules by a California Highway Patrol helicopter using FLIR technology, DeWall said.

Both were arrested and booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of evading a peace officer causing injury, possessing a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest, DeWall said. Their bail was set at $70,000 and they are scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the stolen vehicle portion of the case, while Fairfield police are investigating the accident.